The ability of contemporary cardiologists to judge the ischemic impact of a coronary lesion visually.

Background: Landmark trials showed that invasive pressure measurement (Fractional Flow Reserve, FFR) was a better guide to coronary stenting than visual assessment. However, present-day interventionists have benefited from extensive research and personal experience of mapping anatomy to hemodynamics.

Aims: To determine if visual assessment of the angiogram performs as well as invasive measurement of coronary physiology.

Serial Assessment of Coronary Artery Healing of a Biodegradable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stent at 1, 2, and 3 Months by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)-The REPAIR Trial.

Background: Although first-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) devices have effectively achieved their main goal of reducing restenosis, their safety has been limited by suboptimal polymer biocompatibility, delayed stent endothelialization, and local drug toxicity, which ultimately prompted the development of new-generation DES options carrying biocompatible or even biodegradable polymers.

Aims: We sought to assess the vessel-healing pattern of the novel sirolimus-eluting Inspiron DES (Scitech Medical) using serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) and assuming the hypothesis that this thin-strut (75-μm), biodegradable-polymer DES promotes a faster healing, with very early strut coverage.

Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study enrolling 68 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention guided by OCT.

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Induces Macrophage Production of Prothrombotic Microparticles.

Background Activated vascular cells produce submicron prothrombotic and proinflammatory microparticle vesicles. Atherosclerotic plaques contain high levels of microparticles. Plasma microparticle levels increase during acute coronary syndromes and the thrombotic consequences of plaque rupture likely involve macrophage-derived microparticles (MΦMPs).

MiR-4674 regulates angiogenesis in tissue injury by targeting p38K signaling in endothelial cells.

Neoangiogenesis is critical for tissue repair in response to injury such as myocardial ischemia or dermal wound healing. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs and important regulators of angiogenesis under physiological and pathological disease states. Therefore, identification of microRNAs that may restore impaired angiogenesis in response to tissue injury may provide new targets for therapy.

MicroRNA-615-5p Regulates Angiogenesis and Tissue Repair by Targeting AKT/eNOS (Protein Kinase B/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase) Signaling in Endothelial Cells.

Objective- In response to tissue injury, the appropriate progression of events in angiogenesis is controlled by a careful balance between pro and antiangiogenic factors. We aimed to identify and characterize microRNAs that regulate angiogenesis in response to tissue injury. Approach and Results- We show that in response to tissue injury, microRNA-615-5p (miR-615-5p) is rapidly induced and serves as an antiangiogenic microRNA by targeting endothelial cell VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-AKT (protein kinase B)/eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) signaling in vitro and in vivo.

MicroRNA-135a-3p regulates angiogenesis and tissue repair by targeting p38 signaling in endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis is a critical process in repair of tissue injury that is regulated by a delicate balance between pro- and antiangiogenic factors. In disease states associated with impaired angiogenesis, we identified that miR-135a-3p is rapidly induced and serves as an antiangiogenic microRNA (miRNA) by targeting endothelial cell (EC) p38 signaling in vitro and in vivo. MiR-135a-3p overexpression significantly inhibited EC proliferation, migration, and network tube formation in matrigel, whereas miR-135-3p neutralization had the opposite effects.

Monophasic and biphasic shock for transthoracic conversion of atrial fibrillation: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: Conduct a systematic review of the literature to compare the efficacy of different biphasic and monophasic shock waveforms technologies for transthoracic cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, LILACS and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for randomized clinical trials comparing two or more defibrillation waveforms when performing elective transthoracic cardioversion of AF.

N-acetylcysteine administration prevents nonthyroidal illness syndrome in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a randomized clinical trial.

Context: The acute phase of the nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is characterized by low T3 and high rT3 levels, affecting up to 75% of critically ill patients. Oxidative stress has been implicated as a causative factor of the disturbed peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a potent intracellular antioxidant, can prevent NTIS in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

CD47 plays a critical role in T-cell recruitment by regulation of LFA-1 and VLA-4 integrin adhesive functions.

CD47 plays an important but incompletely understood role in the innate and adaptive immune responses. CD47, also called integrin-associated protein, has been demonstrated to associate in cis with β1 and β3 integrins. Here we test the hypothesis that CD47 regulates adhesive functions of T-cell α4β1 (VLA-4) and αLβ2 (LFA-1) in in vivo and in vitro models of inflammation.

Bone marrow-derived Kruppel-like factor 10 controls reendothelialization in response to arterial injury.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 10, a zinc-finger transcription factor, in bone marrow (BM)-derived cell responses to arterial endothelial injury. Accumulating evidence indicates that BM-derived progenitors are recruited to sites of vascular injury and contribute to endothelial repair.

Approach And Results: In response to carotid artery endothelial denudation, KLF10 mRNA expression was markedly increased in both BM and circulating lin(-) progenitor cells.

Prevalence of high platelet reactivity in aspirin-treated patients referred for coronary angiography.

Background: Aspirin (ASA) reduces adverse events in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients by inhibiting platelets. Some CAD patients have high platelet reactivity (HPR) despite ASA therapy and these individuals have increased risk of adverse events.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPR in ASA-treated patients referred for coronary angiography and to assess whether the HPR correlates with the severity of CAD.

Stent thrombosis: understanding and managing a critical problem.

Coronary artery stent thrombosis (ST), defined as the thrombotic occlusion of a stented segment, is an infrequent but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The clinical consequences of ST are severe, because acute stent occlusion results in myocardial infarction and death in up to 45% of cases. Specific patient and procedural characteristics increase the risk of ST, but optimized interventional techniques and antiplatelet therapies have the potential to decrease ST and improve cardiovascular outcomes following PCI.

An algorithm for use of prasugrel (effient) in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention.

An algorithm for use of Prasugrel (Effient) in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention at the Brigham and Women's Hospital is presented. Our algorithm, which is in the process of being implemented, is consistent with published and generally accepted standards of care and is based on data from the pivotal Trial to Assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by Optimizing Platelet Inhibition with Prasugrel-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TRITON-TIMI) 38, which compared clopidogrel with prasugrel in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Areas of focus include analysis of the benefit of prasugrel over clopidogrel in acute coronary syndrome patients and appropriate selection of patients for prasugrel treatment.

Effectiveness of acetylcysteine in prevention of contrast nephropathy.

Background: Acetylcysteine may provide prophylaxis against contrast nephropathy (CN) in some patients. Its benefit may vary according to the characteristics of patients and contrast used. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of oral acetylcysteine in preventing CN after coronary procedures in our practice.